All the latest news from Dincwear Pro Dancewear.

4 Weeks To 1/9/25

 

Two Strictly Coming Dancing pros left ‘gutted’ after ‘missing out’ on celebrity partner.

The countdown to the 2025 edition of Strictly Come Dancing is on, but it’s not all sequins and sambas for two of the show’s cherished professionals.

Dance pros Luba Mushtuk and Nancy Xu are said to be heartbroken after being told they won’t be paired with celebrity partners this year, ruling them out of the main competition.

The BBC’s flagship dance contest kicks off next month, with a star-studded line-up including Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope and model Ellie Goldstein.

A total of 15 celebs will take to the dance floor alongside seasoned professionals. However, fan favourites Luba, 35, and Nancy, 34, reportedly won’t be twirling around the ballroom with the stars this year

Oti Mabuse eyed up for show return after Dancing On Ice axe.

   

Oti Mabuse is reportedly set to make her return to Strictly Come Dancing as the series kicks off next month – but not as a judge or dancer.

The dancer, who lifted the glitterball twice while serving as a pro has returned as a choreographer for the last few series, after departing the show in 2022, and heading over to judge on ITV’s Dancing On Ice before its axe this year.

Oti was a professional dancer on the show from 2015 to 2021, and was crowed winner two years in a row, taking home the crown with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and Bill Bailey in 2020. Two years after her last victory, Oti made the decision to step away from the show.

The show are keen to work with her once again towards the end of this series, after her success choreographing for the last three series.

“Oti has always held a special place in her heart for Strictly,” a source told the media. “She loves nothing more than watching her choreography come to life on the dance floor.

Oti hasn’t yet publicly addressed her return to the show.

Dance school leaders warn of risky future without proper government support.

Principals of two of England’s leading dance schools have issued a rallying call for the government to fund specialist institutions such as theirs properly, warning that the art form they represent is being increasingly marginalised.

Northern School of Contemporary Dance principal Sharon Watson and Mark Osterfield, the principal of Central School of Ballet, told The Stage that they both had concerns about future funding arrangements for schools like theirs, as well as a perceived sidelining of dance within the industry itself.

They have expressed fears that, as their current funding deals expire and a consultation begins later this year on the future of funding for small, specialist higher education institutions, they will be overlooked and risk losing out on much-needed funding to support their activities. Both argue that they deliver “a high-intensity, high-cost vocational training” which is vital for diversity in the sector and the quality of the talent pipeline in the UK’s creative industries.

Starlight Express extends run once again.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seven-time WhatsOnStage Award-winning Starlight Express will extend once again at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. This marks the show’s sixth extension since opening at the venue.

The current company features Jeevan Braich and Gavin Adams as Rusty, Jade Marvin as Momma McCoy, Olivia Ringrose as Greaseball, Asher Forth as Electra, Sophie Naglik as Pearl and Georgia Pemberton as Dinah and Jaydon Vijn as Hydra.

Also in the cast are Jamie Addison, Jessie Angell, Ollie Augustin, Evan Taylor Benyacar, Charles Butcher, Cletus Chan, Tamara Verhoven Clyde, Jamie Cruttenden, Kelly Downing, Isaac Edwards, Maddy Erzan-Essien, Sam Gallacher, Lucy Glover, Amiyah Goodall, Scott Hayward, Dante Hutchinson, Iwan James, Lewis Kidd, Hannah Kiss, Nicole Louise-Lewis, Bethany Rose Lythgoe, Temi Olawole, Harrison Peterkin, RED, Ashley Rowe, Sheridan, Dieuwke Tonissen, Nicky Wong Rush, Charlie Russell, Lara Vina Uzcatia and Amber Weston.

The musical tells the story of Rusty the steam train, who dreams of becoming the fastest engine in the world. Since its 1984 premiere, Starlight Express has been seen by more than 30 million people worldwide.

A new piano/vocal book has also been published by Hal Leonard, featuring 17 songs from the current London production.

The creative team is led by director Luke Sheppard, with set design by Tim Hatley, costumes by Gabriella Slade, lighting by Howard Hudson, sound by Gareth Owen and video by Andrzej Goulding. Orchestrations are by Matthew Brind with Lloyd Webber, musical supervision by Brind and David Wilson, musical direction by Denise Crowley and casting by Pearson Casting. Ashley Nottingham provides new choreography, with Arlene Phillips returning as creative dramaturg.

Performances take place at the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, located within Wembley Park and a short walk from Wembley Park station.

It is now booking until 19 April 2026.

General News & Sighting

• The Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition will take place in Brazil form the 11th to the 19th of October.
• Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts has acquired the right to design and award its own degrees.
• Carlos Acosta will be honoured for his outstanding contribution to the dance industry at this year’s UK Theatre Awards.
• The new Capital theatre in London delays opening, and its “Dirty Dancing” revival, until 2026.
• The Royal Ballet and Opera has cancelled its proposed performances of the new production of “Tosca” in Israel.
• Tour details were released for Sir Matt Bourne’s “The Red Shoes” which will tour between the 17th of November and the 18th of April 2026.
• Kai Widdrington announced his “Evolution” tour for 2026.
• Pro dancer Lily Cornish and her partner Kyle won the Australian “Dancing With The Stars”. Ash-Leigh Hunter was runner-up with her partner Shaun.
• “The Hunger Games” stage show has announced its full cast. It will star Mia Carragher and have choreography by Charlotte Broom. The show will play at the new Troubadour Canary Wharf theatre from the 20th of October.
• “Paddington The Musical” has announced its West End cast. The choreographer is Ellen Kane.The show opens at the Savoy theatre on the 30th of November (previews from the 1st of November)
• The cast has been announced for the UK tour of “Top Hat” opening in Woking on the 18th of September. It will star Phillip Attmore and Sally Ann Triplett. The show is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.
• Complete casting has been announced for “Get Down Tonight – The Official KC and the Sunshine Band Musical”. It will be directed and have choreography by Lisa Stevens.
• The Kennedy Centre in America has cut its entire dance programming team, raising questions about the future of dance at the venue. (Broadway World)

Future Dance Events News

• “Heathers The Musical” will tour the UK in the summer of 2026. It will have choreography by Gary Lloyd.
• The cast has been revealed for the revival of “Singin’ in the Rain”, at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester. It will star Louis Gaunt, Laura Baldwin and Danny Collins and have choreography by Alistair David. The show will run from the 29th of November until the 18th of January 2026.
• “Barnum” will be touring the UK from February 2026. The show has choreography by Oti Mabuse and Matt Nicholson and will star Lee Mead.
• “Mean Girls The Musical” will open on tour in Manchester on the 23rd of February 2026. The show has choreography by Casey Nicholaw.
• A musical version of “10 Things I Hate About You” is officially in the works. It will have choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.
• The National Theatre’s “Ballet Shoes” will return over Christmas. The choreography is by Ellen Kane.
• “Prescilla Queen of the Desert” will embark on an International tour from February 2026, opening at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. The choreography is by Matt Cole.
• “Young Frankenstein” will receive its regional premiere at the Hope Mill theatre in Manchester from the 10th of October until the 30th of November. It will be directed and choreographed by Nick Winston.

Auditions & Vacancies

• Stagecoach Performing Arts is looking for an experienced dance teacher for Saturdays. Email: richmond@stagecoach.co.uk
• Elliot Smith Dance is looking for 2 male dancers for the tour of “Poppy”. The audition is on the 29th of September at Dance City in Newcastle. The deadline for applications is the 26th of September. For more information contact: http://www.eliotsmithdance.com/jobs
• Honor Roche is looking for male dancers aged over 50. You can contact Honor via her Instagram.
• 2 Faced Dance has an audition in Hereford on the 25th – 27th of September. The deadline to apply is the 5th of September. For more infomation contact: http://www.2faceddance.co.uk/jobs
• Kiera Brunton is looking for a ballroom partner to create dance videos. You can contact Kiera on her Instagram.
• MIA has an invite only casting on the 3rd of September. Contact: info@miamgmt.com
• Gail Davies has an audition for a Japanese cruise line on the 4th of September at the Dance Attic studios in London from 10.00 am – 2.00 pm. Contact: casting.cbg@gmail.com
• Rhiannon Faith Company is looking for 2 dancers. The audition is in Birmingham on the 18th & 19th of September. The deadline to apply is the 9th of September. The audition is by invite only. Contact: info@rhiannonfaith.com
• Salome Pressac is looking for dancers in London aged 16 – 20 for a paid research project with a sportswear brand. You can contact Salome via her Instagram account.
• The FiSteps Dance Company is looking for a performing arts teacher in Crawley for Tuesdays. For more details you can email: fiona@fisteps.com
• Jerry Reeve of Kutes is looking for contemporary dancers with “unique movement”. You can DM Jerry on his Instagram account for more details.

Dance Classes

• Mica Bradbury, soloist with The Royal Ballet, has a La Fille Mal Gardee Ballet workshop on the 14th of September at the Royal Opera House. Contact Mica on: micabeau@gmail.com
• Gemma Elizabeth has a Heels pop up class on the 16th of October at the Manor in London.
• London City Ballet has a workshop at Sadler’s Wells on the 14th of September from 10.00 am – 1.00 pm. Contact: London City Ballet | Touring Summer 2025
• Lauren Gore has a commercial Tap class at Pineapple on Fridays from 4.30 – 5.30 pm.
• On the 14th of September London City Ballet is holding a backstage class and repertoire workshop for professional dancers and students who are interested in finding out more about the company. For more information visit: londoncityballet.com/engage/classes
• Dollie Henry MBE and her BOP present a 2 day convention called “Jazz Art ReWired” at the Place in London on the 13th and the 20th of September.
• Lizzie McConachie has a commercial class at Pineapple Studios on Mondays at 7.30 pm.
• Dollie Henry has her weekly BOP Jazz class every Friday from 12.30 – 3.30 pm. Sign up at: info@bop.org.uk
• The Lukas McFarlane Intensive will take place from the 16th of September until the 25th of September. For more information visit: Lukas McFarlane | Choreographer & Creative
• Kira Malou, star of “Dirty Dancing” in the West End, has an adult ballet class at St Marks School in Southampton on Mondays from 8.15 – 9.15 pm. You can direct message Kira on her Instagram account to book.
• Laura Jane Fenney has a Jazz class at Pineapple every Saturday at 6.00 pm.
• Cora Jay has new dance classes at Dance City in Newcastle on Mondays and Thursdays. You can contact Cora on her Instagram account.
• Wallis Pipe has a Heels class at Pineapple on Mondays from 7.00 – 8.00 pm.
• Natalie Twist has a Sexy R n B class at Pineapple every Wednesday from 8.00 – 9.00 pm.
• David Anderson is teaching at the Base Dance Studios on Tuesdays from 5.30 – 6.55 pm.
• Lucy Jane Adcock is doing regular classes at the Manor in London at 11.00 am on Wednesdays and at the Base Studios on Sundays at 11.30 am.
• Amy Ireland has a Beginners Tap class at Pineapple Dance Studios on Fridays from 10.00 am – 12.00pm.
• Christina Andrea has Commercial classes at Pineapple on Tuesdays from 5.00 – 6.00 pm and on Wednesdays from 7.30 – 8.30 pm. Christina also has a class at Base Studios on Thursdays from 2.30 – 4.00 pm.

Film & TV

• The filmed version of “Hamilton” will be released in cinemas across the UK on the 26th of September. The choreography is by Andy Blankenbuehler.
• We spotted Atalya Rose in the new “What’s the Scoop” advert for McDonalds.
• We spotted Darcey Simmons, Hannah Sofia & Jenna Brandon on stage performing with Shygirl at All Points East. The contract was with AMCK.
• We spotted Risha Tavernier in Danica Taylor’s new music video “Bounce”.
• We spotted Mari Macleod performing with Camila Cabeyo in Japan.
• We spotted Steffie Croxson performing with Zack Knight at the Indigo O2.
• We spotted Maddie Brooks-Brown in the new movie “Son of Sardarr 2”.
• We spotted Renae Hughes, Darcey Simmons & Gracie Gledhill performing with Perrie Edwards of Little Mix.
• We spotted Emma Hunter in the latest Wayfair TV advert.
• We spotted Jaya Villiers, Victoria Mudima & Martha Gimson performing in VJ80: The Nations Tribute on BBC1.
• We spotted Annie Blomfield in the latest TV advert for Knorr.
• We spotted Tamara Whittaker, Saiya Thomas & Ezara Lockhard in the new music video “Romeo” from the Pink Patheress. The choreography was by Simon Donnellon and the contract was with AMCK.

Pro Dancer News Published by the Dincwear Pro Dancewear Team.

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